This article will cover hoe to keep excess water away from drain field lines. An ecosystem is composed of several relationships that make the environment functional and sustainable. There are many ecosystems on earth. They can be very small or very big, depending on the area and the number of organisms that share it. Believe it or not, your household is an ecosystem. Think about it. You live in a structure surrounded by plants and bacteria. You have components that help your ecosystem sustainable and safe. A key component is your septic system. Since you cannot be helped by your municipal sewage system, you are required to have your personal septic system to treat the wastewater that your household produces every day. Your septic system has a septic tank and a drain field. The septic tank is the one that collects and pre-treats the raw wastewater. The clear effluent produced from the septic tank enters into the drain field to be further treated by the aerobic bacteria and purified by the biomat before it is released to the surrounding environment.
Your septic tank is designed and built according to the number of individuals that use your home’s facilities. If you have any changes in your home’s living conditions such as more people, you should have your septic expert add another septic tank. The water load capacity of the septic tank should not be exceeded because the wastewater will overflow and backup into your home, leaving you with huge septic system problems. Once raw wastewater enters the septic tank, the solid waste particles are targeted by the anaerobic bacteria. These bacteria breakdown the solid waste and turn it into sludge. The clear effluent is then safe to enter the drain field. If there is an increased amount of water load, the solid waste materials in the raw wastewater will be stirred up. The anaerobic bacteria will have a terrible delay in breaking these particles down. As a result, the solid particles enter the drain field and clog it. The normal effluent flow in the drain field lines will be blocked. This will make the pre-treated effluent to back up and overflow. The aerobic bacteria in the drain field area will die off and the biomat will increase in number. The biomat will add to the clogs in the drain field as well. You should know how to keep excess water away from drain field lines so that it could effectively distribute the pre-treated wastewater into the drain field.
For you to actively participate in keeping excess water away from the septic system, you should do your best to perform the following:
- Change the drainage direction of your rain gutter.
Some rain gutters directly drain over the septic system area, allowing more sediments and water to enter the system. This results into septic backup and flooding. The raw wastewater threatens your environment and overall health because the raw sewage will seep into the groundwater and contaminate your clean water supply.
- Reduce your water consumption.
You should learn how to decrease the amount of water that your household consumes every single day. You can take showers instead of tub baths every day. You should not let water run in your sink, bathroom, and lawn. If you reduce your water use, your septic tank and bacteria will have more space to treat your wastewater.
- Talk to your septic expert about dry wells and grey water systems.
There are two types of wastewater produced in your household—black water ad grey water. Black water comes from the toilet so it automatically enters the septic system. Grey water is the wastewater that doesn’t contain human waste like the water from using your dishwasher or washing machine.
With proper guidance, you will always keep excess water away from drain filed lines. It’s better to make some early adjustments than suffer the consequences of a failed drain field and ultimately, a failed septic system. Water is a resource that can work with or against you. Choose the former to enjoy your property investment.